Wave and tide motor



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,146

0. L. DARWIN WAVE AND TIDE IO'I'OR Filed lay 31, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet '2Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STA OLIVER L. DARWIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

WAVE AND TIDE MOTOR.

Application med May 31,

This invention relates to wave and tide motors.

Objects of this invention are to provide a novel form of wave and tidemotor which may be placed in the surf and which is automatic in itsaction and :so constructedthat reciprocatory motion of a float istransformed into rotary motion in such a manner that each direction oftravel of the float H) imparts rotary motion to the rotary member, andto provide means for equalizing the intermittent or unequal rate atwhich the energy is supplied the wave motor, so that the unittransmits-continuous rotary motion which may be used ingany suitableFurther objects are to provide a very simple type of wave motor whichhas few parts and in which the parts are of rugged in and reliableconstruction and not likely to get out of order.

Further objects are to provide a wave motor having the abovecharacteristics, which is compactand consequently does not present alarge surface to the wind or other disturbing elements, but whichnevertheless functions in a regular and reliable manner and is capableof picking up a large amount of power. 1

An embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the device; Figure .2 is a sectional view ontheline 2-2 of Figure 1.; t

Figure 3 is a detail .of one of the ratchet devices.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the wave motor comprisesa series of uprights 1 which are carried by a suitable base :2 and whichcarry the working mech anism. The uprights :arebraced by suitable crossmembers, as shown in the drawing, to secure :the requisite strength.They form a substantially rectangular frame relatively high :and ofcomparatively small lateral dimensions. l l

The lower portion of the frame carries a grooved pulley 3 whichisrevolubly mounted upon a fixed shaft 4. This pulley is provided with atriangular framework constituting a projecting arm 5 which carries afloat 6 at its outer end. The float .isof sufficient size and also ofthe proper weight to operate the apparatus, as will hereinafter appear.The arm 5 has spaced feet which are secured by bolts 7 to the wheel orpulley 3 1927. Serial No. 195,438.

at widely spaced points tothus secure the requisite strength andstability. j

The upper portion of the apparatus carries a transverse shaft 8 whichis" provided with a pair :of pulleys 9 preferably :smaller than thepulley 3, although obviously these proportions may vary. These pulleys 9are loosely mounted upon the shaft 8 and are adapted to be thrown intoconnection therewith by means of pawils 10 carried by the pulleys 9cooperating with ratchet wheels 11 rigid with the shaft 8. A cable12-is-passed over the pulleys 9 and around the pulley 3, and itsdownwardlyextending ends are held taut by means of the weights .13.Thus,

when the float 6 rises and falls,=due either to tides or waves, thepulley 3 is rocked first one way and then the other and, consequentlydrives the cable orbelt 13. Thismotion is transformed into rotary motionat the pub leys 9, the pulleys 9 rotating in opposite directions. Theratchet mechanism is such that the shaft 8 is rotated in the samedirection, irrespective of the direction of rocking or rotation of thepulley13, as is apparent from a consideration of Figures 1 and It is tobe noted particularly from Figure 1 that the ratchets 10-extendin-opposite directions so that while one ratchet slides pasttheteeth theother ratchet operatively engages the teeth. Thus, the shaft 8 isintermittently driven in the same direction by the oscillatory motion ofthe fioat 6.

A second shaft 14 is journaled on the upper portion of the frame 1.. Theshafts 8 and 14 are each provided with spur wheels or sprocketwheels 15and .16, respectively. A chain 17, preferably of the silent chain type,isformed in a continuous loop, asshown in Figure 2, and passes over thesprocket wheels 15 and. 16. It also passes over a fiat faced roller 18attachedto a heavy weight 19. The downwardly looped portion passingbeneath the roller .18 is positioned between the sprocket wheels 15 and16, and the free stretch of the chain hangs downwardly, as j The weightin descending, rotates tinuous and uniform manner, and irrespective ofthe intermittent supply of energy furnished by the float, the shaft 14is driven at a continuous and uniform rate.

It is apparent that power may be taken from the shaft 14- in any desiredmanner and that this power will be delivered at a uniform rate.

It will be seen that a novel form of wave and tide motor has beenprovided by this invention which is of extreme simplicity and which isso constructed that the weight acts as an equalizer to store up energyin a portion of the unit itself before this energy is passed on in auniform manner to the driving shaft or power shaft 14. The jack shaft 8is intermittently rotated, as stated, but this obviously produces noeifect upon the continuous rotation of the shaft 14, as the weight 19stores up any energy in excess of that demanded at the shaft 14 at anygiven instant.

It will be seen also that the device is extremely compact in comparisonto the amount of energy that it is capable of absorbing from the wavesand tides.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as theinvention may he variously embodied and as the scope of such inventionis to be determined as claimed.

While I have shown the power takeoff pulley 20 having a belt connection,obviously I may, without departing from the spirit of the invention,employ any suitable gear wheel or gear train in connection with theshaft 14, whereby the slow moving shaft will speed up the drivingconnection, the ratio of the speeding up being arbitrarily arranged asthe case may warrant.

I claim:

1. A wave and tide motor comprising a unitary structure consisting of aframe, a pulley pivotally mounted upon said frame and having anoutwardly projecting arm, a float carried by said outwardly projectingarm, a jack shaft having a pair of pulleys loosely mounted thereon,ratchet mechanism for automatically connecting said last mentionedpulleys to said jack shaft when they are rotated in a predetermineddirection, a cable passing over said first mentioned pulley and saidlast mentioned pair of pulleys, means for holding said cable taut, a)ower delivering shaft mounted adjacent sai jack shaft and carried bysaid frame, a continuous flexible member passing over said jack shaftand said power delivering shaft and having a downwardly looped portion,a roller carried within the downwardly looped portion of said chain, anda weight for urging said roller downwardly to thereby equalize theenergy intermittently supplied by said jack shaftand transmitting saidenergy to said power delivering shaft in a continuous and uniformmanner.

2. A wave and tide motor comprising a unitary structure consisting of afraule, a pulley pivotally mounted upon said frame and having anoutwardly projecting arm, a float carried by the outer end of said armand adapted to rock said pulley first in one direction and then in theother, a jack shaft carried by the upper portion of said frame andhaving a pair of pulleys loosely mounted thereon, a cable passing oversaid pair of pulleys and around said first mentioned pulley and havingdownwardly extending free ends, weights carried by said free ends forholding said cable taut, ratchet mechanism for connecting said pair ofpulleys to said jack shaft for intermittently rotating said jack shaftin a predetermined direction, a sprocket wheel carried by said jackshaft, or power delivering shaft mounted adjacent said jack shaft, anendless chain passing over said sprocket wheels and having a downwardlylooped portion between such sprocket wheels, a roller fitted within thedownwardly looped portion of said chain, and a heavy weight carried bysaid roller and urging said looped portion downwardly.

3. A wave and tide motor comprising a unitary structure consisting of aframe, a pulley pivotally mounted upon said frame and having anoutwardly projecting arm. a float carried by the outer end of said armand adapted to rock said pulley first in one direction and then in theother, a jack shaft carried by the upper portion of said frame andhaving a pair of pulleys loosely mounted thereon, a cable passing oversaid pair of pulleys and around said first mentioned pulley and havingdownwardly extending free ends, weights carried by said free ends forholding said cable taut, ratchet mechanism for connecting said pair ofpulleys to said jack shaft for intermittently rotating said jack shaftin a predetermined direction, a sprocket wheel carried by said j ackshaft, a power delivering shaft mounted adjacent said jack shaft, anendless chain passing over said sprocket wheels and having a downwardlylooped portion between such sprocket wheels, a roller fitted within thedownwardly looped portion of said chain, and a heavy weight carried bysaid roller and urging said looped portion downwardly, and a flywheelcarried by said power delivering shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand atMilwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

OLIVER L. DARWIN.

